The Best Hard Cider Picks for Fall
Updated: Dec. 03, 2023
Our team of fall fanatics sampled 12 brands to find the best hard cider to sip beside the fire or while carving pumpkins.
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Seeking the Best Hard Cider
We love enjoying a light beer on a hot summer day or sipping sparkling wine to celebrate. But on a fall evening, there’s no beating a crisp cider.
Now more than ever, though, store shelves are teeming with cider brands! So how do you pick the best hard cider? You could go by the look of the label, opt for a familiar name or take some tips from our pros (we suggest the latter!).
How We Tested Hard Ciders
For this taste test, our Test Kitchen wrangled a whopping 12 types of hard cider. These apple ciders ranged from dry to sweet and included big names and some smaller brands with dedicated followings. Our team sampled each and judged them according to these categories:
- Appearance: Our team searched for ciders with a pleasant hue and plenty of fizz bubbling to the top.
- Flavor: Whether sweet or dry, ciders should taste strongly of apples—but with a kick! This being said, there are many types of apples, so our team kept those flavors in mind.
Here’s a sneak peek of our top picks. Be sure to read on for our full reviews of these tasty sips.
- Best Overall: Downeast
- Best Dry Cider: Blake’s Cider Co.
- Best Sweet Cider: Angry Orchard
- Best Bubbly Cider: 1911
Best Cider Overall
Downeast Original Blend
Our top-rated pick in this test came in the form of an unfiltered cider: Downeast Original Blend.
When you pour this unfiltered cider into a tall glass, you’ll see that it has a slightly foggy appearance with plenty of bubbles. Its intriguing appearance had our testers eager to sip.
From the very first sip, this cider was a hit. It has a very pleasant fizziness and fruity aroma. As for flavor, “It’s really punchy and tart—but not too sweet,” says Editor Lauren Pahmeier. “It’s just right.”
This balance between dry and sweet—along with the light carbonation—made this cider the number one pick for every single tester. For that reason, we had to name this the best hard cider pick.
Best Dry Cider
Blake’s Cider Co. Original
Ciders sometimes get a reputation for being too sweet. Let us assure you that ciders come in a wide spectrum from sweet to dry. If you prefer your hard cider on the dryer side, our team wholeheartedly recommends the original cider from Blake’s Cider Co.
This cider is wonderfully crisp and pale—and not sweet in the least. It has a light apple flavor with a slightly citrusy finish. Some testers compared this top cider pick to a dry white wine, so Sauvignon Blanc fans, take note!
In the words of Content Director Ellie Martin Cliffe, “This is one sophisticated cider!”
Best Sweet Cider
Angry Orchard Crisp Hard Apple Cider
Love the sweet flavor of traditional apple cider or juice? You’ll get that with Angry Orchard Crisp Hard Apple Cider.
“This cider has a sweet, juicy flavor that packs a punch,” says Ellie. She’s precisely right. Every tester noted how delightfully apple-forward this hard cider was. It’s the type of drink that has you dreaming of fall days and trips to the apple orchard.
While this sipper is tasty on its own, the sweetness makes it a great contender for cider-based cocktails like this Apple Cider Smash.
Best Extra-Bubbly Cider
1911 Original Hard Cider
All about the bubbles? So is 1911 Original Hard Cider. This drink gave our testers all the carbonation they could want. “This one is super bubbly—just like champagne,” says Lauren.
But this best hard cider pick is about more than just fizz. This beverage has a crisp apple flavor with some pear notes and a pretty pale color. It doesn’t lean too sweet or too dry, so it’s a great option to have on hand for fall parties or Friendsgiving.
Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing food, kitchen gadgets and cleaning gear looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.
If you want to fill your pantry and fridge with the best products, check out these tests:
Originally Published: October 10, 2023
